diff --git a/python/lib/sift_py/rule/config.py b/python/lib/sift_py/rule/config.py
index 5729c4d0a..487f32369 100644
--- a/python/lib/sift_py/rule/config.py
+++ b/python/lib/sift_py/rule/config.py
@@ -12,6 +12,88 @@
 from sift_py.ingestion.channel import ChannelConfig
 
 
+class RuleAction(ABC):
+    tags: Optional[List[str]]
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def kind(self) -> RuleActionKind:
+        pass
+
+
+class RuleActionCreateDataReviewAnnotation(RuleAction):
+    """
+    Action to create a data-review annotation when a rule evaluates to a truthy value.
+
+    - `tags`: List of tag names to associate with the newly created data-review annotation.
+    - `assignee`: Email of user in organization to assign the newly created data-review annotation.
+    """
+
+    tags: Optional[List[str]]
+    assignee: Optional[str]
+
+    def __init__(self, assignee: Optional[str] = None, tags: Optional[List[str]] = None):
+        self.assignee = assignee
+        self.tags = tags
+
+    def kind(self) -> RuleActionKind:
+        return RuleActionKind.ANNOTATION
+
+
+class RuleActionCreatePhaseAnnotation(RuleAction):
+    """
+    Action to create a phase annotation when a rule evaluates to a truthy value.
+
+    - `tags`: List of tag names to associate with the newly created data-review annotation.
+    """
+
+    tags: Optional[List[str]]
+
+    def __init__(self, tags: Optional[List[str]] = None):
+        self.tags = tags
+
+    def kind(self) -> RuleActionKind:
+        return RuleActionKind.ANNOTATION
+
+
+class RuleActionKind(Enum):
+    NOTIFICATION = ActionKind.NOTIFICATION
+    ANNOTATION = ActionKind.ANNOTATION
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_str(cls, val: str) -> Optional["RuleActionKind"]:
+        if val == "ACTION_KIND_NOTIFICATION" or val == RuleActionKindStrRep.NOTIFICATION.value:
+            return cls.NOTIFICATION
+        elif val == "ACTION_KIND_ANNOTATION" or val == RuleActionKindStrRep.ANNOTATION.value:
+            return cls.ANNOTATION
+
+        return None
+
+
+class RuleActionAnnotationKind(Enum):
+    REVIEW = "review"
+    PHASE = "phase"
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_annotation_type(cls, annotation_type: AnnotationType) -> "RuleActionAnnotationKind":
+        if annotation_type == AnnotationType.ANNOTATION_TYPE_PHASE:
+            return cls.PHASE
+        return cls.REVIEW
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_str(cls, val: str) -> "RuleActionAnnotationKind":
+        if val == cls.REVIEW.value:
+            return cls.REVIEW
+        elif val == cls.PHASE.value:
+            return cls.PHASE
+        else:
+            raise ValueError(f"Argument '{val}' is not a valid annotation kind.")
+
+
+class RuleActionKindStrRep(Enum):
+    NOTIFICATION = "notification"
+    ANNOTATION = "annotation"
+
+
 class RuleConfig(AsJson):
     """
     Defines a rule to be used during ingestion. If a rule's expression validates to try, then
@@ -20,7 +102,7 @@ class RuleConfig(AsJson):
     - `name`: Name of the rule.
     - `description`: Description of the rule.
     - `expression`: A CEL string expression that executes the `action` when evaluated to a truthy value.
-    - `action`: The action to execute if the result of an `expression` evaluates to a truthy value.
+    - `action`: The action to execute if the result of an `expression` evaluates to a truthy value. Default is to create a data review annotation.
     - `channel_references`: Reference to channel. If an expression is "$1 < 10", then "$1" is the reference and thus should the key in the dict.
     - `rule_client_key`: User defined unique string that uniquely identifies this rule.
     - `asset_names`: A list of asset names that this rule should be applied to. ONLY VALID if defining rules outside of a telemetry config.
@@ -34,7 +116,7 @@ class RuleConfig(AsJson):
     name: str
     description: str
     expression: str
-    action: Optional[RuleAction]
+    action: RuleAction
     channel_references: List[ExpressionChannelReference]
     rule_client_key: Optional[str]
     asset_names: List[str]
@@ -52,7 +134,7 @@ def __init__(
         ],
         description: str = "",
         expression: str = "",
-        action: Optional[RuleAction] = None,
+        action: RuleAction = RuleActionCreateDataReviewAnnotation(),
         rule_client_key: Optional[str] = None,
         asset_names: Optional[List[str]] = None,
         tag_names: Optional[List[str]] = None,
@@ -134,88 +216,6 @@ def interpolate_sub_expressions(
         return expression
 
 
-class RuleAction(ABC):
-    tags: Optional[List[str]]
-
-    @abstractmethod
-    def kind(self) -> RuleActionKind:
-        pass
-
-
-class RuleActionCreateDataReviewAnnotation(RuleAction):
-    """
-    Action to create a data-review annotation when a rule evaluates to a truthy value.
-
-    - `tags`: List of tag names to associate with the newly created data-review annotation.
-    - `assignee`: Email of user in organization to assign the newly created data-review annotation.
-    """
-
-    tags: Optional[List[str]]
-    assignee: Optional[str]
-
-    def __init__(self, assignee: Optional[str] = None, tags: Optional[List[str]] = None):
-        self.assignee = assignee
-        self.tags = tags
-
-    def kind(self) -> RuleActionKind:
-        return RuleActionKind.ANNOTATION
-
-
-class RuleActionCreatePhaseAnnotation(RuleAction):
-    """
-    Action to create a phase annotation when a rule evaluates to a truthy value.
-
-    - `tags`: List of tag names to associate with the newly created data-review annotation.
-    """
-
-    tags: Optional[List[str]]
-
-    def __init__(self, tags: Optional[List[str]] = None):
-        self.tags = tags
-
-    def kind(self) -> RuleActionKind:
-        return RuleActionKind.ANNOTATION
-
-
-class RuleActionKind(Enum):
-    NOTIFICATION = ActionKind.NOTIFICATION
-    ANNOTATION = ActionKind.ANNOTATION
-
-    @classmethod
-    def from_str(cls, val: str) -> Optional["RuleActionKind"]:
-        if val == "ACTION_KIND_NOTIFICATION" or val == RuleActionKindStrRep.NOTIFICATION.value:
-            return cls.NOTIFICATION
-        elif val == "ACTION_KIND_ANNOTATION" or val == RuleActionKindStrRep.ANNOTATION.value:
-            return cls.ANNOTATION
-
-        return None
-
-
-class RuleActionAnnotationKind(Enum):
-    REVIEW = "review"
-    PHASE = "phase"
-
-    @classmethod
-    def from_annotation_type(cls, annotation_type: AnnotationType) -> "RuleActionAnnotationKind":
-        if annotation_type == AnnotationType.ANNOTATION_TYPE_PHASE:
-            return cls.PHASE
-        return cls.REVIEW
-
-    @classmethod
-    def from_str(cls, val: str) -> "RuleActionAnnotationKind":
-        if val == cls.REVIEW.value:
-            return cls.REVIEW
-        elif val == cls.PHASE.value:
-            return cls.PHASE
-        else:
-            raise ValueError(f"Argument '{val}' is not a valid annotation kind.")
-
-
-class RuleActionKindStrRep(Enum):
-    NOTIFICATION = "notification"
-    ANNOTATION = "annotation"
-
-
 class ExpressionChannelReference(TypedDict):
     """
     `channel_reference`: The channel reference (e.g. '$1') used in the expression.